Stoneware matte clear crackle glaze

I have Mayco clear matte crackle glaze. I don't know how to use it. Do I use it by itself over white clay bisque or can I use it over another glaze color to make that color crackle? Please help on this one. Thank you.

I assume this glaze is low fire, most crackles are you can use it over bisque or bisque with underglazes. We always stained our crackle with India ink or strong coffee, there are other ways to stain it. I would wait a least a week before staining sometimes it takes a while to finish crackling. It's been 30 years since I worked with crackle glazes there might be some new techniques out there. Denice

I assume this glaze is low fire, most crackles are you can use it over bisque or bisque with underglazes. We always stained our crackle with India ink or strong coffee, there are other ways to stain it. I would wait a least a week before staining sometimes it takes a while to finish crackling. It's been 30 years since I worked with crackle glazes there might be some new techniques out there. Denice

Thank you. This crackle is cone 6. can I put it over a colored glaze to get crackles in that color?

Sounds like test tiles are in order . . . the Mayco site says it can be applied to bisqued wares, does not mention being applied over another glaze. When combining two glazes, you end up with a new third glaze . . . whose characteristics will be a combination of the two. It might crackle; it might not. No way to predict results.

I've used several crackle glazes over other glazes, and you DO have to do test tiles. Sometimes the interaction between the two glazes is... unfortunate! Frequently you'll loose the crackle, particularly over glossy glazes.

As an alternative, you can add colorant to your clay body, such as mason stains, then use the crackle glaze over. That works well, or decorate your base with colored slips. You'll have to do tests any way you go!

Another idea, if you use something to 'pop' the crackle, you can use something with color on a white clay to get a fine spider web of color. Sharpie markers work, but the color isn't as permanent as I like.

That means it will be crackle over bare clay....wouldn't that be ugly?

The studio clear where I'm at rarely ever fits the clay I'm using, and I frequently get crackle or crazing. I wouldn't call it ugly. I like the crazing . It's a little boring over white clay. But excels over slip covered, and darker clay bodies,. Most people like the crazing, many say it makes piece feel aged.

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That means it will be crackle over bare clay....wouldn't that be ugly?

On thick over porcelain, probably not. If you mixed your own glazes all you would have to do is add 0.5% copper carb and apply the glaze thickly to probably get a nice cone 6 crackle glaze. You could even try testing an ounce of your commercial glaze with a very little pinch of copper carb if you have access to any.

You can use a crackle glaze over underglaze, but as you have a stoneware crackle glaze, you might lose some colour from your underglazes unless they specifically fire to high temps. I can fire my underglazes to stoneware temps but the colours often fade, still nice colours, just not what you're expecting.